Delivery of Legal Services

Delivery of Legal Services

The Committee encourages and promotes access to legal representation and services by persons who are unable to access the legal system because of the lack or financial resources or other barriers beyond their control; promotes the establishment and efficient maintenance of programs which encourage and aid the furnishing of pro bono legal services by members of the Association; assists members and organizations who furnish legal services to low income and disadvantaged persons and to organizations described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code which cannot reasonably afford legal services; recognizes members who furnish pro bono legal services; and takes such other actions as will aid the Association and its members in their obligation to further pro bono legal services.

Pro Bono Breakfast

The Dane County Bar Association’s Delivery of Legal Service Committee held its Pro Bono Breakfast on Law Day, April 29, 2016, The breakfast is an opportunity for Dane County Lawyers to come together and celebrate the importance of pro bono work in our community. The DCBA presented its annual pro bono awards for outstanding service to the Dane County community. UW Law Professor and current State Bar of Wisconsin President Ralph Cagle was this year's speaker.

DCBA Honors Pro Bono Attorneys at Annual Law Day Breakfast

Ways to Help

Dear Dane County Attorneys:

In the summer, 2003 DCBA Newsletter, Attorney Jim Jaeger described a project the Dane County Delivery of Legal Services Committee has undertaken; to produce the booklet, "WAYS TO HELP," offering numerous opportunities for pro bono service as well as an election form for you to choose an agency with which you could become involved. Our Committee is trying to fashion an organized approach to meeting the demand for pro bono services and your participation is essential.

A variety of opportunities are available to you, and a few that you will see in the booklet are: helping with guardianships (Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups), helping develop policies and procedures (Community Coordinated Child Care), participating on a board of directors (Cornucopia), and direct representation in a variety of legal matters. There are many more opportunities in other areas as well.

We urge you to review the booklet and select an organization that you would like to become involved with. Please fill out the provided form, and fax it to 608-848-9266 or fill out the online form. The community needs your help.

If each of you would commit in the next year to take advantage of a pro bono opportunity, the need for services would go a long way towards being met. Thank you.

Worthy Causes Grants

The Dane County Bar Association annually makes funds available for distribution to projects which have one of three purposes:

Increasing the availability of legal services to low income individuals;

Educating members of the public on their rights and responsibilities under the law; or

Improving the legal resources available in Dane County to lawyers and the public.

Nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies providing services in Dane County are eligible to apply for funding.

DCBA Worthy Causes Grants are intended to be used to fund a specific project. They are not intended to be used for staffing, overhead or general operating expenses. Funding from the DCBA should be critical to the project for which funds are sought. Ideally, the project should either be new or an expansion of an existing program. Nonetheless, the grant committee will also entertain requests for funds that would sustain an existing program that might be discontinued without additional funding. Please note that most successful grant applicants in the past have been awarded between $500 and $2,000 in funding.

The grant committee will consider these additional factors:

How the project will be staffed and supported; and

The extent of funding available from other sources for the project.

Applicants should submit a proposed budget for the project, along with the specific amount requested from the DCBA. Applicants may not receive the full amount requested and should indicate whether they would be able to perform the project without the full amount requested. Grant recipients will be required to report on the status of the project. Any prior recipient of funding should be sure to submit that report prior to applying for additional funding.

In 2015 the DCBA was pleased to support the following projects:

ABC for Health for costs associated with Community legal education event “Dane County Health Reform Resources: Mind the Gap!”

Collaborative Foundation of Wisconsin, Inc. for Venue expenses and miscellaneous

costs to hold information sessions about divorce options in Wisconsin.

Community Justice Inc. for printing and distribution costs of a Spanish language brochure.

Dane County Legal Resource Center (DCLRC) to produce copies of the “Low-Cost

Legal Assistance in Dane County”pamphlet.

UW Law School Economic Justice Institute for legal advocacy costs for low-income clients.

Jewish Social Services of Madison, Inc. for translation costs associated with expanding legal immigration services to low income individuals.

Madison College Paralegal Program Expand “Ready, Set, Retirement! program, which educates public on rights and responsibilities under the law.

Workers Rights Center for costs of a Worker’s Rights Manual.

Any organization interested in applying for funding should send its proposal to: Delivery of Legal Services Committee, Dane County Bar Association, P.O. Box 44008, Madison, WI 53704 or email the proposal to law@dcba.net by February 15, 2016. Email submissions in Word or PDF format are preferred.

Farmer’s Market

Every year the DLSC recruits volunteers to provide free legal information at a Dane County Farmer’s Market day.

Attorney David Relles and Judge JoAnne Kloppenburg where among those who volunteered their time with the
Dane County Bar to provide legal information at the MadisonFarmers' Market on October 18, 2014.

Pro Bono Road Show

The DLSC organizes presentations at law firms and other venues to recruit new pro bono attorneys and provide information to those attorneys and firms interested in pro bono efforts. For more information in getting involved or having the Road Show make a stop at your firm please contact Jennifer Binkley.